illustration (attribution, if any possible, is at the end of the article)

Anottapi sutta: Carelessness (SN 16.2)

Thus have I heard. Once the Venerable Maha-Kassapa and the Venerable Sariputta were staying near Benares, at Isipatana in the Deer Park.

Sariputta said: « It is said, friend Kassapa, that without ardor and without taking care one is unable to gain enlightenment, unable to gain Nibbāna, unable to gain relief from bondage… but that with ardor, with taking care, enlightenment, Nibbāna and relief from bondage can be gained. How is this? »

« When, friend, a monk thinks "Evil and unskilled states that have not arisen yet would, if they were to arise, be to my detriment," and he does not arouse ardor; when he thinks "Evil and unskilled states that have arisen already will, if they are not abandoned, be to my detriment," and he does not arouse ardor; when he thinks "Skilled states that have not arisen, if they do not arise, this will be to my detriment," and he does not arouse ardor; when he thinks "Skilled states that have arisen, if they should cease, this will be to my detriment," and he does not arouse ardor — this, friend, is being without ardor. »

[The same is repeated for 'without taking care']

« Thus it is friend, that without ardor, without taking care, one is unable to gain enlightenment, unable to gain Nibbāna, unable to gain relief from bondage. And how, friend, is one ardent?
« When, friend, a monk thinks "Evil and unskilled states that have not arisen yet would, if they were to arise, be to my detriment," and he arouses ardor; when he thinks "Evil and unskilled states that have arisen already will, if they are not abandoned, be to my detriment," and he arouses ardor; when he thinks "Skilled states that have not arisen, if they do not arise, this will be to my detriment," and he arouses ardor; when he thinks "Skilled states that have arisen, if they should cease, this will be to my detriment," and he arouses ardor — this, friend, is arousing ardor. »

[The same repeated with: 'taking care'].

« Thus it is, friend, that by arousing ardor and taking care one is able to gain enlightenment, to gain Nibbāna, to gain relief from bondage. »